In 1996, Parente graduated cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Japanese. After a year spent working in the UCLA outpatient physical therapy department, he returned to school for his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California. In 2000, he graduated from USC and began work as a physical therapist in Los Angeles.

Parente first came to the University of Virginia in the summer of 1998 as a physical therapy student intern. After completing his graduate course of study, Parente returned to service for Virginia in 2001, first as a volunteer, and later as the physical therapy intern for spring and fall football. Upon certification in February 2002, Parente was added to the permanent staff. He has served as the athletic trainer for the UVa baseball team, and is currently the athletic trainer for the UVa women's soccer team. In addition, he mentors the UVa graduate student responsible for the varsity softball team. He also maintains this website for the Department of Sports Medicine and Athletic Training.

Parente has given guest lectures in the master's program for sports medicine/athletic training. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer by the National Athletic Trainers Association and a licensed physical therapist.

Parente is married to the former Kelsey Guisbert, of Farmington, Mich.